"I have been a member of Glamorgan Cricket Club longer than I have been a member of any other organisation and I very much hope that will be able to go back to watch cricket here in Wales over this summer."
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford hopes to watch live sport in summer
First Minister Mark Drakeford says he hopes to watch live sport in Wales over the summer with pilot events planned.
A “potential stadia event” is being considered by the Welsh Government as part of a pilot scheme for the return of crowds to sporting events in Wales.
Wales’ first minister says the test events have been scheduled for May.
“We all look forward to be able to be back watching sport,” he said at his press briefing. “We’re going to have some pilot events here in May.”
The government has given more detailed plans for the easing of lockdown restrictions in the coming weeks.
It says a small number of outdoor pilot events of between 200 and 1,000 people are being planned.
The Football Association of Wales and Glamorgan Cricket have both volunteered to stage pilot events.
The announcement is part of a series of measures as lockdown restrictions ease in Wales with gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities able to reopen from 10 May.
In England, up to 10,000 fans could be back in stadiums by mid-May as part of the government’s plans to move out of lockdown.
The Premier League plans to have fans in grounds at the final two rounds of matches this season.
Wales’ first minister said there will be test events with public safety paramount.
“We’re going to have some pilot events here in May, in the sports and arts, and we’re part of a UK group that is looking at the return of spectators to sporting venues.
“It’s connected to a number of other debates including vaccine certification, and lateral flow testing and so on. Our shared wish is to get people back at sporting arenas but to do it of course in a way that is sensitive to the public health context and in a way that is as safe as possible for us all.”
Wales’ largest sporting organisations joined together to urge the Welsh Government to allow fans to return in a letter signed by 15 organisations in December, 2020.
The Welsh Government provided a £17.7m funding package to help spectator sports in Wales impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic in January.
Any events in Wales attended by fans would be the first since up to 100 people were allowed to attend a car rally and duathlon event in September.
Original article 31.03.21 on the Eminetra website.
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